Faux leather, vegan leather, pleather... call it what you like, but if you’ve been keeping an eye on the fashion scene, you’ve probably noticed that this alternative to leather is stealing the spotlight. Gone are the days when this eco-friendly alternative was considered just a cheap knockoff of the real thing. With fabulous brands like Generation Love, Pistola, and Lavender Brown leading the way, vegan leather is now all about luxe looks without the guilt.

When Emerson Fry introduced their denim line, Twin Doves, we knew we had to give it a try. The same foundations are true of their denim as their ready to wear line. They use quality fabrics and cuts that are wardrobe staples. They are also the softest jeans ever. Sometimes it takes time to “break-in” our jeans, but these already have that feel that you get after you have had a pair of jeans for a few years.

I am late in writing about our outlet, P.S. The Hive. I would love to say it's a new idea, but many of you might remember Treat, a store that was in Old Town I guess about a decade ago. The concept was basically to make a local outlet store for independent boutiques. Think Nordstrom Rack, but for all the little guys out there. That is basically what we are doing at P.S. The Hive.

The beautiful finishes set with brilliant gemstones and diamonds by designer Mazza are rich in Italian heritage of Torro del Greco, reflect a legacy that spans four generations and is enriched by his travels across Italy. Marvel at the meticulous craftsmanship evident in the bezel-set jewelry, burnished style settings, and distinctive Florentine finishes that effortlessly complement the carefully selected, one-of-a-kind gemstones in his collection.

I kept seeing Suzanne Thibeault’s face on social. She was in group shots on LinkedIn, at openings on Insta…in recaps of networking events. Who was this woman? Then I saw her in person. I felt like one of the cool kids when I was invited to a VIP party for the opening of Atlas Brew Works and Andy’s Pizza in Carlyle, and there she was. I introduced myself by sharing that she was my professional girl crush, because she was making moves. She was not freaked out.

This weekend we’re celebrating our 21st Anniversary by hosting our biggest ever Citizens of Humanity Trunk Show. I don’t think we have ever had this many styles and such a great variety of cuts and washes. We have skinny jeans, straight jeans, wide-leg, both cropped and long, barrel jeans, slouchy jeans and cargos. The event goes on all weekend and you can always shop online, too!

What a year 2024 has been! When we celebrated our 20th last fall, I could not have predicted that within 12 months: I would not have a men’s store, I would have an outlet (I like to call it a local version of Nordstrom Rack) and that The Shoe Hive would close its doors at 127 South Fairfax St. and merge into our space at 315 Cameron St. I feel tired just typing it.

Shara has always had an entrepreneurial mindset. “You get out of school and think they’ll teach me how to run a business. But that doesn’t happen in the chiropractic industry…they make you their workhorse, and you just adjust clients, and don’t learn how to run things. There are people who can’t work for others and figure things out for themselves. That was me.” 

To help kick off the fall shopping season we’re having a Bag and Boot Sale. We have so many great bag lines this year. We have our first delivery of fall from Maison N.H Paris, tons of great new pieces from customer favorite Jerome Dreyfus and our first selection of Ganni purses. And we still have MZ Wallace, Think Rolyn and my favorite, Parker Thatch.

After 20 years, we’ve figured out what really works, and want to carry more of what people love. Thanks to Annette’s design we figured out how to keep the shoes right in the center of what we think is the heart of the store – the sitting area where people congregate. Here's our shoe lookbook for fall so everyone can see, we still have tons and tons of great shoes.

The first thing I notice as I walk into Old Town Books Junior is the tree. It is magical. Its leaves. Its trunk. The pillows strewn in front. “It’s the first thing I wanted,” says Ally Kirkpatrick. “I researched the tree before the store designer. I wanted a moment, a beautiful memorable thing. If I were a little kid, I’d remember the tree."

I asked Ali to help style some of the pieces for The Hive’s Veronica Beard Trunk Show, and give them the Ali twist. She always keeps it classic but also puts a bit of a modern spin on it. Check out her three looks with Veronica Beard’s newest arrivals. They made me realize I need that plaid blazer and suede jacket!

If you’ve seen me bopping around Old Town, chances are you’ve seen me wearing - or even asked about - my boots. Black leather, zip straight up the back, and a snap enclosure. They fit like a glove, because they were custom fitted to me. After much convincing, we were able to convince both La Casa de Las Botas and Antonio Vicario to bring these boots to American in Paris.

These women are the perfect example of why Veronica Beard is our number one brand. They are all busy working moms that want to look good when they head out the door, but don’t have time to worry about it. They don’t want a “work wardrobe” and a “mom wardrobe”; they want them to overlap.

Something people don’t know about Stylists At North is that it has a boutique inside the salon with tons of great beauty lines. Not just hair products, but makeup and skincare, too. You also might not know that they also have an amazing makeup artist, Gus Hamburg. If I could just see Gus every morning I would look – and feel a lot better about myself.

Imagine a stunning three-stone ring crafted in luxurious platinum, featuring an extraordinary round-cut sapphire that truly stands out—a rarity that exudes elegance. This magnificent sapphire is perfectly complemented by exquisite trillion-shaped diamonds on either side, harmonizing beautifully with the sapphire's dimensions and creating a breathtaking visual appeal.

If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram, you might have noticed a trend that’s tipping its hat to the American West: cowboy core. This style is all about mixing rugged Western charm with modern fashion, and it’s a fun way to add a bit of frontier flair to your everyday look. Whether you're a style enthusiast or just curious about this trend, here’s a guide to understanding cowboy core.

We have always wanted to get in on the fun Historic Alexandria Homes Tour, presented by The Twig, and thank people for coming to our town for the day. We collaborated with some of the stores on a Snip and Shop. Build a “Boutique Bouquet” by starting at Enchanted Florist to pick-up floral paper and a sticker then continue on to the seven other participating stores.

Many know Vanessa for her illustrations; she launched Old Town Illustrated during the pandemic. “When I moved here in 2021, I was just walking around Old Town and my mom’s husband pointed at the black plaques on homes. He said it meant they held at least 100 years of history. I’m very visual, so I immediately began picturing them (the homes) as illustrations.”

I’ve started to ask my sales reps a question: “What’s on your personal order?” They’ve had the most time to mull the collection and know what the stars are each season before the rest of us do! When Annette and I were riding back from NYC this summer we thought: I bet customers would like to know what we ordered for ourselves. So here it is!